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Jenůfa

April 23, 2023

Její pastorkyňa (Her Stepdaughter; commonly known as Jenůfa (listen)) is an opera in three acts by Leoš Janáček to a Czech libretto by the composer, based on the play Její pastorkyňa by Gabriela Preissová. It was first performed at the National Theatre, Brno on 21 January 1904. Composed between 1896 and 1902,[1] it is among the first operas written in prose.[2]

Jenůfa
Opera by Leoš Janáček
Poster for the premiere, 1904
Native title
Její pastorkyňa (Her Stepdaughter)
LibrettistJanáček
LanguageCzech
Based onJejí pastorkyňa
by Gabriela Preissová
Premiere
21 January 1904 (1904-01-21)
National Theatre, Brno

The first of Janáček's operas in which his distinctive voice can clearly be heard, it is a grim story of infanticide and redemption. Like the playwright's original work, it is known for its unsentimental realism. While today it is heard in the composer's original version, Jenůfa's early popularity was due to a revised version by Karel Kovařovic, altering what was considered its eccentric style and orchestration. Thus altered, it was well-received, first in Prague, and particularly after its Vienna première also worldwide.[3] More than 70 years passed before audiences again heard it in Janáček's original version.

Janáček wrote an overture to the opera, but decided not to use it. It was partly based on a song called Žárlivec (The jealous man). It is now performed as a concert piece under the title Žárlivost (Jealousy), JW 6/10.[4]

The composer dedicated the work to the memory of his daughter Olga (d. 1903), as he did his choral composition the Elegy on the Death of Daughter Olga.

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast,
21 January 1904
(Conductor: Cyril Metoděj Hrazdira)
Jenůfa soprano Marie Kabeláčová
Laca Klemeň tenor Alois Staněk-Doubravský
Števa Buryja tenor Bohdan Procházka
Kostelnička Buryjovka soprano Leopoldina Hanusová-Svobodová[5]
Grandmother Buryjovka contralto Věra Pivoňková
Stárek, the Mill foreman baritone Karel Benýško
Mayor bass Alois Pivoňka
Mayor's wife mezzo-soprano Ema Kučerová
Karolka mezzo-soprano Růžena Kasperová[6]
Chorus:Recruits, servants, girls, villagers, musicians

Synopsis

Place: A Moravian village
Time: the nineteenth century

The plot depends on a tangled set of village relationships. Before the opera begins, the mill-owner Grandmother Buryja's two sons have both married twice, fathered children, and died. Their wives have also died, except for the Kostelnička (widow of the churchwarden), the younger son's second wife and Jenůfa's stepmother. Custom dictates that only Števa, the elder son's child by his second marriage, will inherit the mill, leaving his half-brother Laca and cousin Jenůfa to earn their livings.

Act 1

Jenůfa, Laca, and Grandmother Buryja wait for Števa to return home. Jenůfa, in love with Števa and secretly pregnant with his child, worries that he may have been drafted into the army. Laca, in love with Jenůfa, expresses bitterness against his half-brother's favored position at home. As he complains he plays with a knife and, finding it blunt, gives it to the mill foreman to be sharpened.

The foreman informs the family that Števa has not been drafted, to Jenůfa's relief and Laca's increased frustration. The others leave, and Jenůfa waits to greet Števa. He appears with a group of soldiers, drunk and boasting of his prowess with the girls. He calls for music and drags the miserable Jenůfa into dancing with him.

The Kostelnička steps into this rowdy scene, silences the musicians and, shocked by Števa's behavior, forbids him to marry Jenůfa until he can stay sober for one full year. The soldiers and the family leave Števa and Jenůfa alone, and she begs him to love her, but he, unaware of her pregnancy, gives her casual answers and leaves.

Laca returns, as bitter as ever. He attempts to goad Jenůfa into criticizing Števa, but she takes her lover's side despite everything. Laca rages that Števa would never even look at her if it weren't for her rosy cheeks, then slashes her across the cheek with his knife.

Act 2

Months later, it is winter. The baby has been born, but Števa has not yet come to visit his child. Jenůfa's face is still disfigured, but she is happy in her love for the baby. While Jenůfa sleeps, the Kostelnička summons Števa and demands that he take responsibility. He answers that while he will provide money in secret, no one must know the baby is his. His love for Jenůfa died when Laca spoiled her beauty, and he is now engaged to marry Karolka, the mayor's pretty daughter.

Števa leaves, and Laca enters. He still doesn't know the truth about the baby, and when the Kostelnička tells him, his first reaction is disgust at the thought of taking Števa's child under his wing. Fearful that Jenůfa will be left with no one to marry, Kostelnička hastily lies that the baby is dead. Laca leaves, and the Kostelnička is faced with the necessity of making the lie true. She wraps the baby in a shawl and leaves the house.

Jenůfa wakes up and says a prayer for her child's future, but the Kostelnička, returning, tells her that the baby died while she slept. Laca appears and comforts Jenůfa gently, asking that they spend the rest of their lives together. Seeing the tenderness of the couple, the Kostelnička tries to convince herself that she has acted for the best.

Act 3

It is now spring, and Laca and Jenůfa's wedding day. All seems right again, except that the Kostelnička is a nervous wreck. Števa and Karolka visit, and a chorus of village girls sings a wedding song. Just then, screams are heard. The body of the baby has been discovered in the mill-stream under the melting ice. Jenůfa immediately says that the baby is hers, and in her grief appears guilty of the murder. The village is ready to exact immediate justice against Jenůfa, but the Kostelnička calms them and says that the crime is hers. Hearing the whole story, Jenůfa forgives her stepmother. The crowd takes the Kostelnička off to jail. Jenůfa and Laca are left alone. Jenůfa asks Laca to leave her, as she cannot expect him to marry her now. He replies that he will not leave her, and that he wishes to spend the rest of his life with her.

Noted arias

  • "In a moment" [Co chvíla] (Kostelnička)
  • Jenůfa's prayer (Jenůfa)
  • Finale [Odesli] (Jenůfa, Laca)

Recordings

References

Notes

  1. ^ The description of the Universal Edition German-translated vocal score, 1944 republication, gives 1894–1903 instead- see OCLC 475447489.
  2. ^ Kundera 2004, p. 54
  3. ^ Štědroň 2006, p. 12
  4. ^ Jealousy, Classical Archives
  5. ^ Drlíková 2004, pp. 1—9
  6. ^ Štědroň 1946, pp. 153—154

Sources

  • Drlíková, Eva (2004). Leoš Janáček, Život a dílo v datech a obrazech / Chronology of his life and work. Brno: Opus Musicum. ISBN 80-903211-1-9.(in Czech and English)
  • Holden, Amanda (Ed.) (2001), The New Penguin Opera Guide, New York: Penguin Putnam. ISBN 0-14-029312-4
  • Kundera, Milan (2004). Můj Janáček (in Czech). Brno: Atlantis. ISBN 80-7108-256-2.
  • Tyrrell, John (2007), Janáček: Years of a Life: (1914-1928) Tsar of the Forests, Vol. 2. London: 2007 (Two-volume biography of the composer by the leading authority.)
  • Štědroň, Miloš (Trans. Ted Whang) (2006), Jenůfa (Brno Janáček Opera Chorus and Orchestra, conductor František Jílek) (CD). Leoš Janáček. Prague: Supraphon. SU 3869-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  • Štědroň, Bohumír (1946). Janáček ve vzpomínkách a dopisech (in Czech). Prague: Topičova edice.

External links

  • Gavin Plumley's Leoš Janáček site, information on Jenůfa (site dead 2021-10-26)

April 23, 2023
jenůfa, její, pastorkyňa, stepdaughter, commonly, known, listen, opera, three, acts, leoš, janáček, czech, libretto, composer, based, play, její, pastorkyňa, gabriela, preissová, first, performed, national, theatre, brno, january, 1904, composed, between, 1896. Jeji pastorkyna Her Stepdaughter commonly known as Jenufa listen is an opera in three acts by Leos Janacek to a Czech libretto by the composer based on the play Jeji pastorkyna by Gabriela Preissova It was first performed at the National Theatre Brno on 21 January 1904 Composed between 1896 and 1902 1 it is among the first operas written in prose 2 JenufaOpera by Leos JanacekPoster for the premiere 1904Native titleJeji pastorkyna Her Stepdaughter LibrettistJanacekLanguageCzechBased onJeji pastorkynaby Gabriela PreissovaPremiere21 January 1904 1904 01 21 National Theatre BrnoThe first of Janacek s operas in which his distinctive voice can clearly be heard it is a grim story of infanticide and redemption Like the playwright s original work it is known for its unsentimental realism While today it is heard in the composer s original version Jenufa s early popularity was due to a revised version by Karel Kovarovic altering what was considered its eccentric style and orchestration Thus altered it was well received first in Prague and particularly after its Vienna premiere also worldwide 3 More than 70 years passed before audiences again heard it in Janacek s original version Janacek wrote an overture to the opera but decided not to use it It was partly based on a song called Zarlivec The jealous man It is now performed as a concert piece under the title Zarlivost Jealousy JW 6 10 4 The composer dedicated the work to the memory of his daughter Olga d 1903 as he did his choral composition the Elegy on the Death of Daughter Olga Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 2 1 Act 1 2 2 Act 2 2 3 Act 3 3 Noted arias 4 Recordings 5 References 6 External linksRoles EditRole Voice type Premiere Cast 21 January 1904 Conductor Cyril Metodej Hrazdira Jenufa soprano Marie KabelacovaLaca Klemen tenor Alois Stanek DoubravskySteva Buryja tenor Bohdan ProchazkaKostelnicka Buryjovka soprano Leopoldina Hanusova Svobodova 5 Grandmother Buryjovka contralto Vera PivonkovaStarek the Mill foreman baritone Karel BenyskoMayor bass Alois PivonkaMayor s wife mezzo soprano Ema KucerovaKarolka mezzo soprano Ruzena Kasperova 6 Chorus Recruits servants girls villagers musiciansSynopsis EditPlace A Moravian village Time the nineteenth centuryThe plot depends on a tangled set of village relationships Before the opera begins the mill owner Grandmother Buryja s two sons have both married twice fathered children and died Their wives have also died except for the Kostelnicka widow of the churchwarden the younger son s second wife and Jenufa s stepmother Custom dictates that only Steva the elder son s child by his second marriage will inherit the mill leaving his half brother Laca and cousin Jenufa to earn their livings Act 1 Edit Jenufa Laca and Grandmother Buryja wait for Steva to return home Jenufa in love with Steva and secretly pregnant with his child worries that he may have been drafted into the army Laca in love with Jenufa expresses bitterness against his half brother s favored position at home As he complains he plays with a knife and finding it blunt gives it to the mill foreman to be sharpened The foreman informs the family that Steva has not been drafted to Jenufa s relief and Laca s increased frustration The others leave and Jenufa waits to greet Steva He appears with a group of soldiers drunk and boasting of his prowess with the girls He calls for music and drags the miserable Jenufa into dancing with him The Kostelnicka steps into this rowdy scene silences the musicians and shocked by Steva s behavior forbids him to marry Jenufa until he can stay sober for one full year The soldiers and the family leave Steva and Jenufa alone and she begs him to love her but he unaware of her pregnancy gives her casual answers and leaves Laca returns as bitter as ever He attempts to goad Jenufa into criticizing Steva but she takes her lover s side despite everything Laca rages that Steva would never even look at her if it weren t for her rosy cheeks then slashes her across the cheek with his knife Act 2 Edit Months later it is winter The baby has been born but Steva has not yet come to visit his child Jenufa s face is still disfigured but she is happy in her love for the baby While Jenufa sleeps the Kostelnicka summons Steva and demands that he take responsibility He answers that while he will provide money in secret no one must know the baby is his His love for Jenufa died when Laca spoiled her beauty and he is now engaged to marry Karolka the mayor s pretty daughter Steva leaves and Laca enters He still doesn t know the truth about the baby and when the Kostelnicka tells him his first reaction is disgust at the thought of taking Steva s child under his wing Fearful that Jenufa will be left with no one to marry Kostelnicka hastily lies that the baby is dead Laca leaves and the Kostelnicka is faced with the necessity of making the lie true She wraps the baby in a shawl and leaves the house Jenufa wakes up and says a prayer for her child s future but the Kostelnicka returning tells her that the baby died while she slept Laca appears and comforts Jenufa gently asking that they spend the rest of their lives together Seeing the tenderness of the couple the Kostelnicka tries to convince herself that she has acted for the best Act 3 Edit It is now spring and Laca and Jenufa s wedding day All seems right again except that the Kostelnicka is a nervous wreck Steva and Karolka visit and a chorus of village girls sings a wedding song Just then screams are heard The body of the baby has been discovered in the mill stream under the melting ice Jenufa immediately says that the baby is hers and in her grief appears guilty of the murder The village is ready to exact immediate justice against Jenufa but the Kostelnicka calms them and says that the crime is hers Hearing the whole story Jenufa forgives her stepmother The crowd takes the Kostelnicka off to jail Jenufa and Laca are left alone Jenufa asks Laca to leave her as she cannot expect him to marry her now He replies that he will not leave her and that he wishes to spend the rest of his life with her Noted arias Edit In a moment Co chvila Kostelnicka Jenufa s prayer Jenufa Finale Odesli Jenufa Laca Recordings Edit1951 Stepanka Jelinkova Beno Blachut Ivo Zidek Marta Krasova Miloslava Fidlerova Milada Cadikovicova Karel Kalas Marie Musilova Vladimir Jedenactik Milada Subrtova Prague National Theatre Chorus Prague National Theatre Orchestra conducted by Jaroslav Vogel Supraphon recorded at the Dvorak Hall of the Rudolfinum Prague 2 CDs 1969 Libuse Domaninskaya Vilem Pribyl Ivo Zidek Nadezda Kniplova Marie Mrazova Jindrich Jindrak Marta Bohacova Prague National Theatre Chorus Prague National Theatre Orchestra conducted by Bohumil Gregor Supraphon recorded Zofin Hall Prague June 1969 Label HMV EMI CD reissue 2011 1974 Magda Olivero Jeda Valtriani Nicola Zaccaria Margherita Benetti Giuseppe Morresi Grace Bumbry Maria Grazia Allegri Nella Verri Silvana Zanolli Renato Cioni Jerzy Semkow Conductor La Scala Orchestra and Chorus Recorded at the Teatro alla Scala Milano 1974 Label Myto 1977 Gabriela Benackova Nadĕzda Kniplova Vilem Pribyl Vladimir Krejcik Anna Barova Karel Berman and others Brno Janacek Opera Chorus Brno Janacek Opera Orchestra conducted by Frantisek Jilek Recorded at the Janacek Opera House Brno 1977 78 Label Supraphon 10 2751 2 612 2CDs 1980 Sona Cervena Sena Jurinac Willard White Elisabeth Soderstrom John del Carlo Gwendolyn Jones Sara Ganz Susan Quittmeyer Pamela South William Lewis San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Albert Rosen Recorded at the War Memorial Opera House San Francisco October 1 1980 as on the accompanying material but possibly the performance of October 10 which was broadcast Label Gala 1983 Elisabeth Soderstrom Wieslaw Ochman Peter Dvorsky Eva Randova Vaclav Zitek Dalibor Jedlicka Ivana Mixova Lucia Popp Marie Mrazova Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna State Opera Chorus conducted by Charles Mackerras recorded Sofiensaal Vienna April 1982 Label Decca 1988 Gabriela Benackova Leonie Rysanek Wieslaw Ochman Peter Kazaras Opera Orchestra of New York conducted by Eve Queler Recorded at Carnegie Hall March 30 1988 Label BIS 2003 Elizabeth Vaughan Dame Josephine Barstow Janice Watson Peter Wedd Nigel Robson Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras Recorded at Brangwyn Hall Swansea United Kingdom July 2003 Label Chandos 2009 Amanda Roocroft Deborah Polaski Miroslav Dvorsky Nikolai Schukoff Mette Ejsing Karoly Szemeredy Miguel Sola Marta Matheu Marta Ubieta Elena Poesina Teatro Real Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Ivor Bolton Stage Director Stephane Braunschweig Recorded at the Teatro Real Madrid 2009 Label Opus Arte DVD 2014 Gal James Jenufa Iris Vermillion Kostelnicka Buryjovka Dunja Vejzovic Starenka Buryjovka Ales Briscein Laca Klemen Taylan Reinhard Steva Buryja and others Choir and Singschul of the Graz Opera Graz Philharmonic Orchestra Dirk Kaftan conductor recorded live during staged performances at Graz Opera Graz Austria 7 17 21 22 May 2014 Oehms Classics OC 962 2 CDsReferences EditNotes The description of the Universal Edition German translated vocal score 1944 republication gives 1894 1903 instead see OCLC 475447489 Kundera 2004 p 54 Stedron 2006 p 12 Jealousy Classical Archives Drlikova 2004 pp 1 9 Stedron 1946 pp 153 154 Sources Drlikova Eva 2004 Leos Janacek Zivot a dilo v datech a obrazech Chronology of his life and work Brno Opus Musicum ISBN 80 903211 1 9 in Czech and English Holden Amanda Ed 2001 The New Penguin Opera Guide New York Penguin Putnam ISBN 0 14 029312 4 Kundera Milan 2004 Muj Janacek in Czech Brno Atlantis ISBN 80 7108 256 2 Tyrrell John 2007 Janacek Years of a Life 1914 1928 Tsar of the Forests Vol 2 London 2007 Two volume biography of the composer by the leading authority Stedron Milos Trans Ted Whang 2006 Jenufa Brno Janacek Opera Chorus and Orchestra conductor Frantisek Jilek CD Leos Janacek Prague Supraphon SU 3869 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Stedron Bohumir 1946 Janacek ve vzpominkach a dopisech in Czech Prague Topicova edice External links EditGavin Plumley s Leos Janacek site information on Jenufa site dead 2021 10 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jenufa amp oldid 1087115262, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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